CAA Basketball: Why UNC Wilmington is a top 25 team

Mar 17, 2016; Providence, RI, USA; UNC Wilmington Seahawks guard Chris Flemmings (1) reacts during the second half of a first round game against Duke University during the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite facing a weak schedule in the CAA basketball league, do the UNC Wilmington Eagles deserve a spot in the top 25?

Take a look at these blind resumes, and think to yourself which team should be a top 25 squad.

Team A: 17-2; 0 wins over top 25 teams; six wins by 10+ points; teams they lost to are a combined 21-16

Team B: 19-2; 0 wins over top 25 teams; 11 wins by 10+ points; teams they lost to are a combined 27-10

Team A is the 25th-ranked Maryland Terrapins, while Team B, who I’m assuming you believed had the stronger resume, is the unranked UNC Wilmington Seahawks. Maryland got 121 top 25 votes in the most recent AP poll, but UNC Wilmington only got six.

More from Colonial

UNC Wilmington continues to establish themselves as the top team in the CAA. They are now in sole possession of the league with an 8-0 conference record. The Seahawks are 19-2 overall.

The Seahawks have dominated since the beginning of conference play, and defeated Charleston, the CAA’s second best team, by six on the road to solidify the No. 1 spot in the Colonial. Their seven other conference wins have been by eight or more points.

UNC Wilmington is phenomenal on offense, posting 86.3 points per game, 13th-best in the NCAA. They rank inside the top 25 nationally in team field goal percentage, connecting on 48.5 percent of their shots from the field.

This group is the epitome of a 12-seed in March that has the ability to make a deep run. The Seahawks have four players scoring in double figures on average, as well as a deep roster that gets about 10 players actively involved in every game.

Next: Injury Report (OG Anunoby out for remainder of season)

Although the competition they face is weak, with 19 wins in their back pocket, UNC Wilmington certainly should receive more top 25 votes. If they continue to roll on their current eight-game winning streak, this team will definitely enter the top 25 at some point.